Rutaro, KarlmaxHawumba, JosephNakimuli, JaneMulindwa, JuliusMalinga, Geoffrey M.Baingana, Rhona2022-12-112022-12-112022Rutaro, K., Hawumba, J., Nakimuli, J., Mulindwa, J., Malinga, G. M., & Baingana, R. (2022). Value Chain Hygiene Practices and Microbial Contamination of Street and Market Vended Ready-to-Eat grasshopper, Ruspolia differens in Uganda: Implications for food safety and public health. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-2275593/v1https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-2275593/v1https://nru.uncst.go.ug/handle/123456789/6196Food safety is a major public health issue, particularly in developing countries. Ready-to-eat street-vended foods contribute to daily dietary life, but with elevated food safety burden. Here, hygiene and food safety practices as well as the microbial contamination in Uganda's edible grasshopper value chain was evaluated. Methods This was a cross-sectional mixed methods study with both qualitative and quantitative approaches. A face-toface administered questionnaire and observational checklists were used to collect data. A total of 29 households (Kampala; 12 and Masaka; 17) participated, and grasshopper samples collected along the value chain. Indicator pathogens were analysed using standard microbiological methods. Results Sociodemographic characteristics reveal that two-thirds of households in Kampala and 53% in Masaka were female headed. In Kampala and Masaka, respectively, 50% and 12% of households had earth or sand floors. All households in Kampala were one or two-roomed dwellings with no separate room as a kitchen, and shared a toilet compared to 43%, 65% and 53%, respectively, in Masaka. 83% households in Kampala and 56% in Masaka obtained drinking water from public taps. Handwashing was inadequate and none of the actors was observed to wash their hands after taking a break or handling waste. Only 8.3% respondents had raised racks for drying utensils. For vendors, wearing protective clothing was not common, with only 28.5% in Kampala and 30.8% in Masaka wearing an apron. Containers for vending grasshoppers were largely uncovered and the utensils (spoon or cup) for measuring the grasshoppers were left mainly uncovered during the observation period. Indicator organisms, E. coli and Salmonella typhimurium, were detected. E. coli was the most common contaminant, but with lower levels in Masaka compared to Kampala. Salmonella typhimurium was mainly a burden in Kampala. Conclusions Our findings demonstrate that there are enormous contributors to poor hygiene and sanitation along the value chain. The existence of pathogenic bacteria such as E. coli in ready-to-eat foods imply that their consumption pose a health risk. There is an urgent need to create awareness among the actors,through regular trainings on food safety and personal hygiene practices in food handling and inspection to prevent foodborne diseaseenStreet foodsEdible grasshopperEdible bush cricketSanitationArticle